1 week ago
25
Craig Kerry
May 7, 2026 — 5:00pm
Three years after their winning streak with dream horse Think About It took in the Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford, trainer Joe Pride is thrilled to have a “focused” Sam Clipperton back guiding his chance at a sixth win in the race.
And Clipperton, six months into his comeback from a one-year retirement, hopes the reunion can lead to another “special” Queensland campaign with a Pride-trained galloper.
Clipperton rides Kerguelen, a $4.40 (TAB) favourite, for the first time in the listed sprint, which Pride has won five times. The Warwick Farm trainer’s most recent victory was with Think About It, which came off a freshen-up to stretch his winning streak to five before going on to break through at group 1 level in the Kingsford-Smith Cup then the Stradbroke Handicap in Queensland. The run extended into the spring with a career-best win for the combination in the $20 million Everest.
Clipperton, though, retired 14 months later at age 30, citing the demands of being a jockey and desire to pursue a new career.
He returned to riding from a stint in real estate in December and has racked up 19 winners, including 14 in town and a group 3 Carbine Club Stakes victory with Autumn Break. The record also includes six wins and three placings for Pride from 12 rides.
“It’s been good using Sam again, and he’s been good for the stable,” Pride said.
“He’s riding at a really good strike rate for us ... and he’s a different person again now.
“You could see he was stale at the end, and Sam will tell you that. His mind wasn’t in the right place, but geez he’s focused now. He’s a good rider and he looks very stylish on a horse.”
Pride hoped Clipperton could help the Godolphin-owned gelding, a strong-finishing fifth in the Hall Mark Stakes last start, get away better and push his claims for a Stradbroke Handicap assault.
“I want to get him into the Stradbroke, but he needs to be winning a race like this to go there,” he said.
“He’s probably got two chances to win a race to get his rating up high enough.
“The best version of him is on wet tracks, which he’s probably not going to get on Saturday, but he’s still a very handy horse, even on dry ground.
“He’s not always the fastest away, but if he can jump from that gate [two], hold a spot midfield, he’ll be electric late. He ran amazing sectionals [last start]. He can break 33 [seconds for 600m] coming home, so he’ll do that again. It’s just the head start he’ll give, but he’s the horse to beat.”
Clipperton, who cared for Think About It until his death three months ago, was grateful for the opportunity from Pride and Godolphin and hoped to give Kerguelen a soft run from the draw.
He was set to travel to Queensland last week to partner Chris Waller-trained Jokers Grin in the Victory Stakes before it changed paths. He was then lucky to get rides last Saturday at Hawkesbury, where he won on Waller’s Stormy Marco, but he was still open to opportunities in Queensland over the winter.
If they don’t come, Clipperton is happy to keep chipping away in Sydney.
“It’s going really good,” he said.
“Christmas was a good period. Naturally, the carnival was always going to slow down for me, but I had a bit of a goal to feature in it, which I did with a win in the Carbine Club, so that was a box ticked.
“It was just something that I could build off, but also the satisfaction to be my first carnival back, riding a winner on day one of the Championships.
“I’m just probably approaching it with a different mindset now. I went off and worked in the Hunter Valley, which was a great experience and a great time, but it made me realise that I’m very lucky I’m one of very few that get the opportunity to make a living doing what you love, but also what you’re somewhat good at.
“Every business and journey has ups and downs, but I’m just approaching it with a different mindset, and rolling with the punches and having a smile on my face.
“I’ve been at a level where I was riding group 1 winners and that’s where I plan on getting back to, but it’s a slow burn, and it’s just trust the process.”
Clipperton’s other ride on Saturday is Waller-trained Star Of India ($17) in the Gosford Gold Cup.
“He was very unlucky luck two starts to go and maybe getting to Gosford, on a smaller circumference, shorter track, may suit,” he said.
